Plural-cylinder engine.



H. WHITE. PLURAL CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6,1912.

Patented July 14:, 19M

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(Luz/676607 Maw R. H. WHITE. PLURAL CYLINDER ENGINEL APPLIOATIOIN FILEDMAR. e, 1912.

Patented July 14,1914,

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lu/enfor E EFFrIIPI HITE.

PLURAL CYLINDER ENGINE.-

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1912,

Patented July M, 1914.

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R. H. WHITE. PLURAL CYLINDER ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.'6, 1912.

Patented July 14, 19142.

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t'JNtTED snares PATENT RQLLIN WHITE, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS VILLAGE. OHIO,ASSIGNOR TO THE W'HITE COMPANY, 01? CLEVELAND, OHIO, AL CORPORATIQN OFOHIO.

PLURAL-CYLINDER ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July id, 191%.

Application filed March 6, 1912. Serial No. 681,955.

, following is a full, clear, and exact description. 7

The primary object of this invention is to reduce the weight. the size,and the cost of plural cylinder internal combustion engines of? theV-type, without reducing their etliciency; to do away with puppetvalves, and to provide suitable means for lubricating the valvemechanism.

The invention involves the employment of a single casting which includesthe cylinders, the exhaust manifold and the valve casings,'said manifoldand valve casings being disposed within the V-space between the two rowsof cylindersand water circi'ilatinc; space which surrounds thecylinders, the exhaust manifold, and the valve casings, Thisconstruction and combina tion. of parts, and other suboidinatecombinations of parts which contribute to the cfiiciency of the engine,constitute the improvements which are defined by the appcndcd claims;and'said invention in the best form known to me is shown in the ac-'conipanying drawings and hereinafter fully described.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away andsectioned, of an engine embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a front endview of said engine with the valve driving; mechanism sectioned. Fig. 3is a vertical transverse section. in the planeindicated by line 3-8 onFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the engine when the cap plate isremoved, andsome of the parts sectioned. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan viewin the plane of'line 5-5 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan ofsomewhat more than onehalf the engine in the plane indicated by line 6-6on Fig. 3. I

The engine showivhas six cylinders; but, obviously, the invention iscapable of being; embodied in an engine having any even number ofcylinders. The engine is what is known as the V type; that is to say.the cy1- inders are arranged in two rows. The three cylinders A, A, A'inone row have their 'axes'in the same inclined plane; and the threecylinders A, A, A in the other row have their axes in another inclinedplane; and said planes intersect at the axis of the crank shaft. In asix cylinder engine these planes lie at an angle of degrees to eachother, and at angles of 15 degrees to a vertical plane which passesthrough the axis of the crank shaft. I i

The cylinders are cast bloc; that is to say, all six cylinders are partof the same casting, which casting also includes the valve casings B, B,the exhaust manifold C, and cored out water spaces which surround thecylinders, the exhaust manifold and the alve casings. Each of thecylinders A, AKA, has near its top a port (1., i

which leads to the valve casingB. Each of the cylinders A, A A, in theother row has near its top a port a whichleads to the valve casing B,Associated with each of these ports a, a is an inlet port (1, whichleads from the associated valve casing through the top of the casting,so as to communicate with the inlet manifold f which is a space orchamber between the top of the casting and a cap plate F which isremovably secured to the top of said casting. Associated with each ofthe ports a, a is also an exhaust port a which leads from the.

associated valve casing to the exhaust manifold C. Y

Suitable valves, ,n'hich ,1 will be subsequcntly described in detail,are provided for controlling the flow of gas from theinletmanifold tothe several cylinders, and from the several cylinders to the exhaustmam-- fold. That is to say, the ports (t, a of the several cylinderswill be connected with the associated inlet ports a? during the suctionstrokes of the pistons in the associated cylinders. Said ports a a. willalso be con nccted with the assoc. during the scamngina i. in thesevera'i cylinders- Said ports will be closed completely during thecompression and explosion strokes of the piston.

The exhaust manifold C referred to is a tube which is an integral partof the same casting in which the cylinders are formed, This tube islocated in the V-shaped space between the two rows ct cylinders. Anexhaust pipe C is connected with the rear okes of the piston Within thecasting are cored out water i exhaust ports a liil jacketing spaces Hwhich surround the exofjports a, a", a.

' and are a) set that will he connected with the order indicated by theexponent figures as. described, in that it so f" haust manifold and theseveral cylinders and the valve casings. Vater is delivered to thesewater circulating spaces from a tube it, which lies within and near thebottom of the V-shaped space between the two rows of cylinders, and isan integral part of the casting. The front end of this tube projectsforward so as to permit the attachment of a water supply pipe, and itsopen rear end lies near the rear end of the casting. The dischargeoutlet for the coolin water is through a hole It in the top 0 thecasting and near the front end thereof. The cooling water, therefore,enters the pipe 71. and is discharged into the Water circulating spacewithin the casting near the rear end thereof, and flows upward andforward and is finally discharged through the hole it. The cap plate Fis formed with an integral tube f whose open bottom registers with thehole h when the, cap plate is secured in position.

Any suitable valves and valve operating mechanism may be employed withthe construction thus far described. But, since it is desired to avoidthe use of puppet valves,

the construction shown in the drawings has been devised. Two cylindricalvalve casings B, B are formed as integral parts of the easing, in theV-shaped space between the two rows of cylinders, but in a plane abovethe exhaust manifold. They extend from one end ofthe casting to theother, and the rear ends of these valve casings are closedby a cap plateJ. In these cylindrical valve casings the two cylindrical valves E, Eare rotatably mounted and nicely fitted. The surface of the valve E iscut away or grooved at three points, 6 e, c. The length of these groovesmeasured lengthwise of the valve, is such as corresponds with thelengths of the ports a, a a The extent of these grooves, measuredcircumferentially, is such that during about one-quarter of therevolution of the valve communication will be established through eachgroove between the associated port a and the associated inlet port a Forapproximately another quarter of the revolution communication will beestablished through each groove between the associated port a andexhaust port a During the remainder of the revolution there will be nocommunication between the port a and either of the ports a a". a a

The valve E, which is fitted in the valve casing 13 is substantiallylike the valve E, has three grooves e o;- cooperationwith the associatedgroups These two valves E, E revolt/eat one-half the crank shaft speed,the several cylinders the inlet manifold in applied to the referenceletter A. These valfies are driven from the crank shaft P by means of avertical shaft K which has a lower bearing M, through which it passesinto the crank case G. It has an upper bearing m through which it passesinto a housing m which is an integral part of the casting. This housinghas a removable cap 912. The worm gears e, e are fixed respectively tothe front ends of the two rotatable-valves E, E. A worm is on the upperend of the shaft K engages with these two worm gears. A worm gear 7: onthe lower-end of the shaft K is connected by means of a train of gearsn, n and n with the crank shaft P, to which the last named gear isfixed.

The two valves E and E have, because of the worm and worm gear drivingmechanism, a tendency to move endwise in opposite directions. The endthrust of the valve E istaken up at the rear end by bearing against anadjustable screw R. The end thrust of the valve E is borne by anadjustable screw R. In order to lubricate this valve mechanism oil isdischarged through pipes S, S, into an annular space 6 between the rearends of these valves and the plate "J, withi the rear ends of the twovalve casings. Each-of the valves has a hole 0 extending longitudinallythrough it from one end practically to the other end. Diagonal holes elead from the central longit-udinal hole in these valves to the spaceI), and it is through these longitudinal holes that oil, delivered intothe space I) will flow through the valves to the front end thereof, andthat oil will be discharged from 'the front end of the valves into thehousing an. From this housing the oil will flow down between the shaft Kand its upper bearing (said shaft having a spiral groove) into a tube T,which embraces the shaft and. extends from the upper to the lowerbearing, and from this tubethe oil will flow between the shaft (Whichhas a spiral groove) and its lower bearing into the crank case.

Each of the valves E, E has several radial ducts 6 leading from thecentral hole 0 therein to the surface, and it is through these ductsthat oil will be discharged to lubricate the engaging surfaces, betweenthe valves and the valve casings.

The crank shaft P has three cranks 7) which are set at 120 apart andthey are connected in any suitable or well known manner with 'theseveral pistons of the several cylinders; that is to say, one crank willbe connected with the pistons and the 'two associated cylinders one ineach row.

The inlet manifold f between the cap plate F and the top'of the engine-will be connected with any suitable carbureting apparatus by means-0fthe mixture inlet p p Q- The foregoing is a descriptionof the specificconstruction which is shown in the drawing, and no attempt has been madeto catalogue'the various changes which obviously may be made thereinwithout departure from the invention which. is defined by the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. In a plural cylinder engine,the combination with a single casting in which are 10 formed two rows ofcylinders disposed V- wise, an exhaust manifold which is in the V spacebetween the two rows of cylinders, valve casings which are also locatedin the V space between the two rows of cylinders, and water circulatingspaces which surround the cylinders, the exhaust manifold and the valvecasings,there being a port leading from each cylinder to its associatedvalve casing, an inlet port associated with :1) each cylinder leadingfrom the associated valve casing through the top of the casting, and aport associated with each cylinder leading from the associated valvecasing to the exhaust manifold, of a removable cap secured to the top ofthe casting thereby in closing an inletmanifold.

52. In a plural cylinder engine, the combination of a single casting inwhich is formed two rows of cylinders disposed V-wise, an exhaustmanifold which is in the V space between the two rows of cylinders,valve casings which are also located in the V space between the two rowsof cylinders, a water inlet tube which is, formed in the V space betweensaid cylinders and has an openfront end, and is extended nearly to therear end of the casting and is open at its rear end, and cored out watercirculating spaces with which the rear end of said water inlet tubedischarges, which water spaces surround the cylinders, the exhaustmanifold and the valve casings and has a water discharging hole at thetop of the casting near its front end, of a removable cap secured to thetop of the casting thereby inclosing an inlet manifold, said cap beingformed with a water discharge tube which registers with said waterdischarge hole in the casting when the cap is in place.

8. In a plural cylinder engine, the combination of a single casting inwhich is formed two rows of cylinders disposed V-wise, an exhaustmanifold which is in the V space between the two cylinders, twolongitudinally extended cylindrical valve casings which are located inthe V space between the cylinders and above the exhaust manifold,- therebeing a portleading from each. cylinder to the adjacent valve casing,and an inlet port associated witheach cylinder leading from theassociated valve casing through the top of thecasting to the inletmanifold, and an exhaust port associating with each cylinderleadingfrorn the associated valve casing'to the exhaust pianifold, and therebeing also within the casting water circulat ing spaces which surroundthe cylinders the exhaust manifold and the valve casu a, ct

two valves rotatably mounted in said two two rows of cylinders disposedV-wise,

exhaust manifold which is in the ii-space 83; between the two cylinders,two longitudinally extended cylindrical valve casings which are locatedin the V space between the cylinders and above the exhaust manifold,-there being a port leading from each cylinder to the adjacent valvecasing, and. an inlet port associated with each cylinder lead ing fromthe associated valve casing through the top of the casting to the inletmanifold, and an exhaust port associating with each :3 cylinder leadingfrom the asoraated valve casing to the exhaust manifold, and there beingalso within the casting water 'llclifiik ing' spaces which surroui'idthe cylinders, the

exhaust manifold and the valve casin s, of {.3 two valves rotatablymounted in said two valve casings, each valve having surface grooveslocated at places such that each groove coljperates with a group ofthree ports associated with a cylinder, means for rotating said Valves,each of said valves hav-" ing a hole extended through it from end toend. and having lateral ducts leading from said hole outward, means fordischarging oil into the rear ends of said valve casings, and means forconducting the oil from the front ends of said valve casings to asuitable reservoir therefor.

5. In a plural cylinder engine, the combination of two rows of cylindersdisposed \l-wise, two cylindrical/valve casings arranged in the\l-shaped space betweeiri the two rows of cylinders, there being portsconnecting the cylinders of one row with one of said valve casings, andthere being also ports 115 connecting the cylinders of the other rowwith the other valve casing, an inlet manifold common to all of thecylinders disposed within the V-shaped space between the twof rows ofcylinders, said inlet manifold being 126 connected with each of thevalve casings by as many ports as there are cylinders connected withsaid valve casing, an exhaust manifold common to'all of the cylinders,which exhaust manifold is connected with 1 5 the two valve casings by asmany ports'as there are cylinders connected with each valve casing, arotary valve in each valve casing having surface grooves through whichcommunication will be made from 139 each cylinder to the inlet manifoldand from each cylinder to the exhaust manifold.

6. In a plural cylinder engine, the combination with a row of cylinders,an inlet manifold, an exhaust manifold and a tubular valve casingdisposed at the side of the row of cylinders and between the exhaustmanifold and the inlet manifold, there being a port leading from eachcylinder to said valve casing, an inlet port associated with eachcylinder leading from the valve casing to the inlet manifold, and anexhaust port associated with each cylinder leading fromthe valve casingto the exhaust manifold, a r0- tatable cylindrical valve mounted 'insaid valve casing and having as-many surface grooves as thereare-cylinders, each groove being located in a position to cooperate withthe three ports associated with a cylinder, said valve being tubular andhaving a plurality of ducts leading from the hollow center to thesurface of said valve, means for discharging oil into one end of thevalve casing, means for conducting the oil from the other end of thevalve casing to a suitable receptacle therefor, and means for rotatin'said valve.

7. n a plural cylinder engine, the combination with a row of cylinders,an inlet manifold, an exhaust manifold and a tubular valve casingdisposed at the side of the row of cylinders and between the exhaustmanifold and the inlet manifold, there being a port leading from eachcylinder to said valve casing, an inlet port associated With eachcylinder leading from the valve casing to the inlet manifold, an exhaustport associated with each cylinder leading from the valve casing to theexhaust manifold, a rotatable cylindrical valve mounted in said valvecasing and having as many surface grooves as there are cylinders, eachgroove being located in a position to cooperate .with the three portsassociated with a cylinder, said valve being tubular and having aplurality of ducts'leading from the hollow center to the surface of saidvalve, means for discharging oil into one end of the valve casing, avertical shaft mounted in two bearings supported by the front end ofsaid casting, a tube loosely embracing the vertical shaft and extendingfrom the upper to the lower bearings thereof, a housing over the upperend of said shaft and front ends of the Valves, a worm fixed t0 theupper end of said shaft, and worm gears meshing therewith fixedrespectively to the front ends of said valves, and mechanismtransmitting motion from-the engine'crank shaft to said vertical shaft.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. ROLLIN H. XVHITE. Witnesses:

H. R. SULLHAN,

E. L. THURSTON.

